Gansu
One Hexi Corridor strings together grottoes, rainbow hills, gobi and a frontier fortress.
Gansu is one of the destinations we cover in China. Best season: May to October. Altitude: Dunhuang 1,138 m / Zhangye 1,480 m / Lanzhou 1,520 m. China Custom Tours (chinacustomtours.hk) runs private tailor-made trips in Gansu with a dedicated vehicle and guide, and no shopping stops.
- Best season
- May to October
- Temperature
- Summer 18–32°C with a wide day-night swing
- Altitude
- Dunhuang 1,138 m / Zhangye 1,480 m / Lanzhou 1,520 m
- Published routes
- 4
Gansu
Gansu is a long, narrow corridor: from Lanzhou in the east to Dunhuang in the west, desert and steppe to the north, the Qilian snow range to the south. It was the only route from the Central Plains to the Western Regions in Han and Tang times, which is why Mogao, Yulin, Jiayuguan and Yumen Pass all cluster here.
| Best season | May to October |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Summer 18–32°C with a wide day-night swing |
| Altitude | Dunhuang 1,138 m / Zhangye 1,480 m / Lanzhou 1,520 m |
Last updated 2026-10-13 · maintained by the China Custom Tours editorial desk
The places at the heart of these itineraries.
Mogao Caves, Crescent Lake, Yumen Pass and the Yardang landforms.
The westernmost pass of the Ming Great Wall.
Rainbow hills, Mati Temple and the Great Buddha Temple.
Home of the Leitai Han tomb and the bronze Flying Horse.
The provincial capital on the Yellow River — birthplace of Lanzhou beef noodles.
Every one of these can be rebuilt around your dates.
CultureDunhuang & the Silk Road
Murals, dunes, a frontier pass and wind-carved desert. Dunhuang compresses Silk Road history and geography tighter than anywhere else.
LandscapeThe Hexi Corridor
From Lanzhou to Dunhuang, one thousand kilometres west — the corridor the Han and Tang caravans actually walked.
Most popularQinghai–Gansu Grand Loop
Two provinces, six landscapes in one loop — the route our Hong Kong and Taiwan guests ask for most, and the one we know best.
GrasslandQilian Grasslands & Menyuan
Grasslands at 15–20°C in midsummer, with rapeseed fields running to the horizon. The cool-weather version of Qinghai.
Gansu travel questions.
Can Gansu and Qinghai be combined?
Yes, and it is what we recommend most. The Qinghai–Gansu Grand Loop links both provinces into one 8–10 day circuit and is our most popular route.
Are Mogao Caves tickets hard to get?
In peak season (July, August and the National Day holiday) they often sell out a month ahead. We book as soon as your itinerary is confirmed and arrange the emergency ticket if the standard ones are gone.
Is Gansu very hot and dry?
Summer days can reach 30–35°C, but it is dry and breezy, which feels easier than southern China. Drink plenty of water and bring lip balm and sunscreen.
Want to go to Gansu?
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